tushanshu | (no subject)

[As the video cuts on a girl can be seen trying to adjust the settings only to slam her fist down right next to the keyboard in total frustration.]

Stupid technology…and I thought the ancient El-Hazardians made things complicated; this has got to be even worse!

[Because technology is only good when it works, and highly selective in whoever it chooses to be user friendly toward. Can you really blame her?

Upon closer inspection of the girl, she looks somewhat drained, like the strength had been sapped from her body and she was slowly trying to get it back. She shows some visible signs of her weariness, pinching the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger.]

Okay…whatever…it’s on so it’ll be what it’ll be for now…just as long as I can communicate…oh and since we’re communicating I’m going to need some answers right now.

[She sure sounds grateful, doesn’t she.]

Because…well, to be frank I didn’t understand a single thing those Phantom Tribe look-alikes were trying to yammer at me…and while we’re on the subject of yammering keep it brief. [She makes the gesture for small with her fingers to emphasize the point.] I was dumped here with a massive headache and I don’t think I can take too much…I don’t know if it has something to do with the fact that I can’t use my powers all that great…[She snaps her fingers, but only a small burst of fire appears briefly and like a candle being extinguished it goes away]…or maybe they did something…bastards…if they did I’ll seriously…

[…“kick their ass” is hanging in the air there somewhere, but a wave of weariness washes over her and she drops her head into her hands.]…This is so stupid…

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Given we're surrounded by ocean, there's no shortage of salt.

And I'm not aware of any other shortages, besides food and alcohol.

Exactly!

Two of life's basic creature comforts...[sigh]...ah well I guess we've covered shortages and work. What about the other three Sectors? I know about the Fire and Metal ones already...well a little bit.

Those two tend to be the richest. Earth Sector, where I live, has a lot of craftspeople and stone buildings. Wood sector has giant trees, and Water sector has canals.

Well that's pretty concise.

This might be a stupid question but has anyone managed to get off of this floating rock?

Floating turtle.

There's some kind of barrier that blocks direct flights or swimming. And the one time we made port, the country didn't look too hospitable. People disappear and are supposed to have been sent home, but we can't confirm that. Anyone who comes back does so without memory of having been here.

[Zel should know; supposedly he was one of those people.]

Floating turtle...man, I still can't wrap my mind around that.

Well I don't specialize in the wind element so flying'd be out anyway, but even if I wanted to swim I couldn't. It's a giant prison after all.

So...they might not really be going back...

I have to say I hope they are, as I have a friend that happened to, but... we only have the Emperor's word.

[And Zel is not a trusting person]

Sorry, I don't mean to throw any kind of muck into the mix especially if it's a friend. It just seems kinda strange, and I don't exactly trust this Emperor.

[Something they have in common.]

You're not the only one, even ignoring my own opinions. Most people don't think kindly of royalty that think press gangs are the best way to recruit people.

Haaa! Is that what they're trying to do?

I have no clue what their goal is, but we were brought here for some reason.

I see...that...kinda pisses me off. Of course being brought here for no reason at all is a pain in the ass too.

There's no happy medium here.

They could have asked us first. I don't mind being paid for whatever they want me to do, and living here has certain intangible benefits.

What sort of intangible benefits? [She's having a hard time seeing that.]

It's complicated... and probably specific to me.

[because 'I had a dream and now spend an hour every day as a human thanks to the turtle' sounds pretty unlikely, even when it happened.]

Awww...come on, really? That's like having a bucket of cold water dumped on ya.

[Now she's just plain curious.]

It's good for your character.

Hey, hey...trying to fool me is just cheating. They tried that in the abbey...waterfall meditation is good for your character...but cold water is cold water.

[snorts]

I'm sure it's one of those things about suffering or something.

You're enjoying this, aren't you?

...But you have a point. Kind of. A little. Damn it.

Who, me?

[Yes, he totally is]

Yeah you, mister man of mystery.

Okay...well if you won't tell me what the benefits are, how about your name?

If I'm going to mysterious, I really should be anonymous, don't you think?

[he sounds really pleased by this]

But my name is Zelgadis.

Ahhh...c'mon you don't have to be that difficult, I swear I don't bite! Okay I don't bite often...well...only when I'm pissed off...hnnn that could be pretty frequent...but still...

[and she looks a little flustered because...turning her words against her...that's just...clever...and flustering]

Heh...well now we're getting somewhere. My name is Shayla.

A pleasure, Shayla.